Steam-pipe mounting



Feb cl2? 3929.( LJOEJES A. L.. JENSEN STEAM PIPE MOUNTING Filed June 29,1927 Patented Feb. 12, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.ALBERT L. JENSEN, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 'IO DOBLE STEAMMOTORS CORPORATION, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION F DELAWARE.

STEAM-PIPE MOUNTING.

Appiication med :une 29, 1927. serial No. 202,251.

with the boiler secured to the frame at the forward end thereof and theengine secured to the rear axle and attached to the rear portion of theframe so that it can have relative movement with respect thereto. Arelatively long steam pipe conducts steam from the boiler at the frontend of the frame to the engine adj acent the rear of the frame. Themovement of the engine with respect to the frame and also the vibrationof the vehicle as it passes over irregularities in the road both tend toset up vibrations in the steam pipe. These vibrations are oftenaccentuated because of the length of the pipe so that the pipe has a.tendency toward undue movement, sometimes termed \vhip. Excessivevibration or whip of the steam pipe not only is objectionable of itselfbut it also is likely to give rise to crystallization and breakage ofthe steam pipe.

An object of my invention is to provide a means for overcoming whippingof the steam 1 e. p nother object of my invention is to provide a meanswhich will permit normal movement of the steam pipe but which willprevent undue and destructive vibration thereof.

My invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which withthe foregoing will be set forth at length in the following descriptionwhere I shall outline in full that form of the steam pipe mounting of myinvention, which I have selected for illustration in the drawingsaccompanying and forming part of the present specification. In saiddrawings I have shown one form of steam pipe mounting embodying myinvention, but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to suchform since the invention, as set forth in the claims, may be embodied ina plurality of forms.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in side elevation the steam pipe mounting of my inventionas it is applied to a steam automobile, portions of the vehicle framebeing shown in cross section.

Fig. 2 shows in plan the steam pipe mounting of my invention.

My invention preferably includes means for opposing the motion of asteam pipe connecting two points having relative movement, in asufficient amount to dampen out unwanted vibration or whipping, andpermitnormal movement of the pipe.

In the embodiment of my invention disclosed in the accompanyingdrawings, the vehicle comprises a frame made up of two side rails 5 andintermediate cross members 6, 7, 8 and 9. The frame is supported onaxles 11 and 12 thru the intermediary of springs 13 and 14. The rearsprings 14 are preferably shackled at their rear ends and are secured tothe frame at their front ends by means of spring bolts of the usualkind. The engine 16 for propelling the vehicle is preferably mountedbetween the frame and the axle. At its rear end the engine is supportedby the axle 12 while the front end is carried by a tube 17 connectedthru ball joints 18 and 19 to the cross member 9 and to the front of theengine head.' The engine is thereby partially supported by the frameanda large part of the engine torque is taken by the frame, but most ofthe driving stresses are transmitted to the frame thru the springs 14.The engine is free to move a limited amount in all directions.

At the front end of the frame is mounted a boiler 21, which is of anytype suit-able as a source of steam. Steam from its source in the boiler21 is conducted thru a steam pipe 22 to its terminal at the engine 16.Adjacent the boiler the steam pipe is supported by a hanger 23 grippingthe pipe and in turn supported by the intermediate cross member 7.Proximate its entry into the engine, the steam pipe is interrupted by aninterposed ball joint 211 which is steam tight but preferably permitsconsiderable motion between the engine 16 and the pipe. A large part ofthe relative movement between the engine and the frame is taken up bythe ball joint without being transmitted further along the steam pipe.Some of the movement is transmitted, however, and in order to allow forvariations in length of the steam pipe, I preferably provide a loop 26intermediate the ends of the pipe. The loop may be substantiallysemi-circular in extent as shown, or can be of any desired contour toimpart the desired axial flexibility to the pipe.

The length of the steam pipe 22 together with the relative Amovementbetween the engine 16 and the boiler 21 tend toward excessive vibrationor whipping of the pipe, es pecially during progress of the vehicle overrough roads. The' whipping is in itself obpoint of attachment to theengine, I have provided a toggle including the two arms 27 andy 28.

The arm 28 is preferably attached'to an intermediate cross member 8 thrua connection 29 permitting tree movementl of the arm while the arm 27 ispivoted to a sleeve 31 clamped on the steam pipe 22. The knee or jointof the toggle is preferably frictionally held from free movement. Thisrictional Abinding is accomplished by means of a bolt 82 coincident withthe pivotal axis of the `knee and carrying a coil spring 83 confinedbetween the arm 27 and a nut located on the end of the bolt. Thecircular contacting surfaces of the two arms are thereby pressedtogether with the requisite amount of force and oder considerablefrictional resistance to the movement of the toggle. This resistance canbe readily adjusted by moving the nut upon the bolt. The toggletherefore not only serves as a support for the steam pipe, but alsooiiers sufficient resistance to the movement of the pipe so that theforces which ordinarily set up vibration and Whipping are dampened outlbefore they e'ect that result. The value of the opposing frictionnecessary for dampening, however, is not suiiiciently `great to preventnormal move ment of the steam pipe and it is consequentlysufiiciently'i'ree to accommodate itself to the relative motion betweenthe engine 16 and the boiler 2l..

T claim:

l. A steam pipe mounting comprising a steam pipe relatively stationaryat one end and adapted to vibrate at the other end, and means forfrictionally restraining the vibrat-ion of said pipe.

2. A steam pipe mounting comprising a steam pipe adapted to havemovement with respect to its support, and means permitting said movementand restraining Whipping of said pipe.

3. A steam pipe mounting comprising a frame, a terminal for steamadapted to move With respect to said frame, a steam pipe constrained atoneend to move With said frame and constrained at the other en'd to movewith said terminal, and a device connecting said frame and said steampipe for restraining the motion of said pipe.

4. A steam pipe mounting comprising a frame, a terminal for steamadapted to vibrate with respect to said frame, a steam pipe constrainedat one end to move 'with said frame and constrained at the other end tomove With said terminal, and a frictionally bound toggle connecting saidsteam pipe to said frame.

\ 5. A steam pipe mounting comprising a frame, a source of steam on saidframe, a terminal for steam connected to said frame, a pipe connectingsaid source to said terminal, said pipe vbeing subject to Whipping, andmeans for restraining said pipe against Whipping but permitting normalmotion thereof.

. 6. A steam `pipe mounting comprising a trame, a steam pipe adapted tomove at one end with respect to said frame, and a frictionally boundtoggle connecting said pipe to said frame.

7. A steam pipe mounting comprising a frame, a source of steam on saidframe, a terminal for steam adapted to move With respect to said frame,a steam pipe aconnected to said source, and a ball joint connectfngsaidpipe to said terminal.

8. A steam pipe mounting comprising a frame, a source of steam on saidframe, a terminal for steam adapted to move with respect to said frame,a steam pipe connecting said source and said terminal, a ball jointinterposed in said pipe between said source and said terminal, and africtionally bound toggle connecting said pipe to said frame.

9. A steam pipe mounting comprising a iframe7 a steam boiler on saidframe, a steam engine mounted to move With respect to said frame, asteam pipeA connecting said boiler and said engine, said pipe having aloop intermediate its ends, a ball joint interposed in said steam pipeadjacent said engine and a frietionally bound toggle connecting anintermediate portion of said pipe to said frame.

10. A pipe mounting comprising a pipe relatively stationary at oneendand adapted to vibrate at the other end, and means permitting saidvibration and restraining Whipping of said pipe.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

ALBERT L. JENSEN.

